1. 1 Characterization of kenaf/PLA composites ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006 PROJECT Eco-Houses Based on Eco-Friendly Polymer Composite Construction Materials - ECO-PCCM 11 OKTOMVRI EUROKOMPOZIT ISO 9001:2000

2. 2 CompositionPcs Size, mm Thickness, mm Specific weight, kg/m 3 1 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 400 x 600 6040 2 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 400 x 600 5040 3 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 400 x 600 4060 4 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 400 x 600 4080 5 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 400 x 600 4040 6 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 400 x 600 3040 7 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 4 120 x 120 3080 8 - ISOLKENAF: kenaf / PLA 2 400 x 600 1060 9 - ISOLKENAF: 60% kenaf / 40% PLA 4 400 x 600 2060 ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006 DELIVERED KENAF/PLA PREFORMS BY K.E.F.I

3. 3 Hot plate Press piston Press platen Polster Release foil The panels were fabricated by thermo compression in a closed mold. Mold MANUFACTURING OF KENAF/PLA COMPOSITES Closed mold and application of spacers Kenaf layers ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

4. 4 MANUFACTURING OF KENAF/PLA COMPOSITES PLA squeezed out The application of the same press cycle (open mold and high pressure) as the one for kenaf/PP composites was impossible because PLA was squeezed out of the fibers. Open mold panel ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

5. 5 MANUFACTURING OF KENAF/PLA COMPOSITES To solve the problem of the PLA squeeze out, a closed mold and 9.0 mm thick spacers were applied to prevent full closure of the mold and migration of PLA to the boundaries of the composite panel. All manufactured composites of kenaf/PLA were 120x120x~9.0 mm kenaf/PLA layers spacers Mold in open position Mold in closed position kenaf/PLA composite ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

6. 6 The samples of the kenaf fibers preforms are prepared of 2 layers kenaf / PLA and 4 layers kenaf / PLA in dependance of the thickness on the start preforms kenaf / PLA The final composites were approximately 9 mm thick. The size of the composite plates is chosen for best utilization of the material because the test specimen have to be 120 mm long. Specimen dimensions were according to the respective standards. Of all available kenaf preforms we prepared final composites. Set: 2 layers kenaf / PLA Set: 4 layers kenaf / PLA ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006 Press Cycle: T=175 O C Pm = until closing on the spacers t = 20 min MANUFACTURING OF KENAF/PLA COMPOSITES

7. 7 Property Test Method Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=60 mm;  =40 kg/m 3 ) Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=50 mm;  =40 kg/m 3 ) Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=40 mm;  =60 kg/m 3 ) Areal weight, kg/m 2 JUS G.S2.51 6,84,56,1 Water absorption, % ISO/DP 9674 64,6180,085,1 Fire resistance UL 94 burnsburnsburns Flexural strength, MPa DIN 53457 11,81,7610,0 Flexural modulus, GPa DIN 53457 1,10,080,6 Impact strength, an 9, kJ/m 2 DIN 53453 53,89,560,0 Impact strength, an10, kJ/m 2 DIN 53453 93,712,184,0 Compression strength, MPa DIN 53454 3,60,873,5 Testing of kenaf / PLA composites ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006 Physical and mechanical characteristics of kenaf/PLA composites – average value

8. 8 Composite kenaf/PLA: d=50mm;  =40kg/m 3 ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

9. 9 Property Test Method Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=40 mm;  =80 kg/m 3 ) Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=40 mm;  =40 kg/m 3 ) Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=30 mm;  =40 kg/m 3 ) Areal weight, kg/m 2 JUS G.S2.51 5,83,83,4 Water absorption, % ISO/DP 9674 80,1147,694,5 Fire resistance UL 94 burnsburnsburns Flexural strength, MPa DIN 53457 9,82,35,8 Flexural modulus, GPa DIN 53457 0,71,50,3 Impact strength, an 9, kJ/m 2 DIN 53453 100,09,76,8 Impact strength, an10, kJ/m 2 DIN 53453 47,015,814,5 Compression strength, MPa DIN 53454 4,60,71,27 ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006 Testing of kenaf / PLA composites Physical and mechanical characteristics of kenaf/PLA composites – average value

10. 10 Composite kenaf/PLA: d=40mm;  =40kg/m 3 The composite samples after testing Composite kenaf/PLA: d=10mm;  =60kg/m 3

11. 11 Property Test Method Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=30 mm;  =80 kg/m 3 ) Composite: kenaf/PLA (d=10 mm;  =60 kg/m 3 ) Composite: 60%kenaf/40%PLA (d=20 mm;  =60 kg/m 3 ) Area weight, kg/m 2 JUS G.S2.51 6,7 3,1 3,10,65 Water absorption, % ISO/DP 9674 72,2121,451,5 Fire resistance UL 94 burnsburnsburns Flexural strength, MPa DIN 53457 16,22,921,7 Flexural modulus, GPa DIN 53457 1,60,21,22 Impact strength, an 9, kJ/m 2 DIN 53453 3719,343,2 Impact strength, an10, kJ/m 2 DIN 53453 5212,760,3 Compression strength, MPa DIN 53454 6,21,316,5 ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006 Testing of kenaf / PLA composites Physical and mechanical characteristics of kenaf/PLA composites – average value

12. 12 Composite 60%kenaf/40%PLA: d=20mm;  =60kg/m 3 The composite samples after testing Composite kenaf/PLA: d=30mm;  =80kg/m 3 ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

13. 13 FLEXURAL AND COMPRESSION STRENGTH FOR ALL COMPOSITES 1 – Kenaf / PLA (d=60mm;  =40kg/m3); 2 – Kenaf / PLA (d=50mm;  =40kg/m3); 3 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =60kg/m3); 4 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =80kg/m3); 5 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =40kg/m3); 6 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =40kg/m3); 7 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =80kg/m3); 8 – Kenaf / PLA (d=10mm;  =60kg/m3); 9 – 60% Kenaf / 40% PLA (d=20mm;  =60kg/m3); ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

14. 14 FLEXURAL MODULUS FOR ALL COMPOSITES 1 – Kenaf / PLA (d=60mm; r=40kg/m3); 2 – Kenaf / PLA (d=50mm; r=40kg/m3); 3 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm; r=60kg/m3); 4 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm; r=80kg/m3); 5 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =40kg/m3); 6 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =40kg/m3); 7 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =80kg/m3); 8 – Kenaf / PLA (d=10mm;  =60kg/m3); 9 – 60% Kenaf / 40% PLA (d=20mm;  =60kg/m3); 1 – Kenaf / PLA (d=60mm;  =40kg/m3); 2 – Kenaf / PLA (d=50mm;  =40kg/m3); 3 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =60kg/m3); 4 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =80kg/m3); 5 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =40kg/m3); 6 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =40kg/m3); 7 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =80kg/m3); 8 – Kenaf / PLA (d=10mm;  =60kg/m3); 9 – 60% Kenaf / 40% PLA (d=20mm;  =60kg/m3); ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

15. 15 1 – Kenaf / PLA (d=60mm;  =40kg/m3); 2 – Kenaf / PLA (d=50mm;  =40kg/m3); 3 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =60kg/m3); 4 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =80kg/m3); 5 – Kenaf / PLA (d=40mm;  =40kg/m3); 6 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =40kg/m3); 7 – Kenaf / PLA (d=30mm;  =80kg/m3); 8 – Kenaf / PLA (d=10mm;  =60kg/m3); 9 – 60% Kenaf / 40% PLA (d=20mm;  =60kg/m3); IMPACT STRENGTH FOR ALL COMPOSITES ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

16. 16 Impact strength “ an 15 ” Impact strength “ an 9 ” 15 mm 9 mm ECO-PCCM Fourth Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 6-7, 2006

17. 17 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION